9 day kilimanjaro Trekking through UMBWE route

For 9 Day Kilimanjaro Trekking

'Karibu Tanzania - welcome to Tanzania!' says your own Tanzania Specialist guide as you exit Kilimanjaro International Airport, beaming broadly. You are taken directly to your accommodation by the guide, where you may unwind and enjoy the African ambience. Your guide takes you on a private, exclusive safari the following day, letting you go at your own speed. 

9 Day Kilimanjaro Trekking Umbwe Route

The 11 km (7-mile) ascent from Umbwe Gate (1,600m / 5,249ft) to Umbwe Cave Camp (2,900m / 9,514ft) takes five to seven hours. The trail passes through thick highland rainforest with difficult terrain and humid conditions. As climbers reach 1,300 meters (4,265ft), the path becomes steeper and more rugged. Umbwe Cave Camp marks the first strenuous day, requiring stamina and acclimatization. It provides a remote resting spot at a higher elevation.

Baranco Camp

It takes 4-6 hours to cover 6 km (3.7 miles) from Umbwe Cave Camp (2,900m / 9,514ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950m / 12,959ft), including a steep 1,050-meter (3,445ft) ascent. Climbers pass through stony ridges, enjoying stunning views of Kilimanjaro's glaciers as they transition from rainforest to heath and moorland. The trail joins the Machame and Lemosho routes near Barranco Camp, located beneath the Barranco Wall. This stage aids acclimatization, following the "climb high, sleep low" strategy before the challenging ascent the next day.

Barranco Camp

It takes 4-5 hours to hike 5 km (3.1 miles) from Barranco Camp (3,950m / 12,959ft) to Karanga Camp (4,040m / 13,254ft), passing through the Barranco Wall (3,977m / 13,047ft). Climbers scramble up the steep 300-meter (984ft) Barranco Wall, then enjoy stunning glacier views. Afterward, they descend into Karanga Valley before reaching Karanga Camp, where they rest with breathtaking views of Uhuru Peak. This stage follows the "climb high, sleep low" technique for better acclimatization.

Trekking 4 km (2.5 miles) in 3–4 hours from Karanga Camp (4,040 m/13,254 ft) to Barafu Camp (4,645 m/15,239 ft) involves a 605-meter (1,985-foot) rise. As oxygen levels fall, the trail winds through the Alpine Desert region, growing steeper and more desolate. Before arriving at Barafu Camp, the base camp for the summit attempt, climbers take in views of Mawenzi Peak and the glaciers of Kibo. They recover and get ready for the last climb to Uhuru Peak, which starts at midnight.

Barafu Camp

The last section of the Umbwe Route is the hike from Barafu Camp (4,645 m/15,239 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) and then to Millennium Camp (3,820 m/12,532 ft). Around midnight, climbers begin their ascent, which takes six to eight hours to reach Uhuru Peak. Following their summit celebration, they spend five to six hours resting and recuperating at Millennium Camp. A strenuous peak effort and a descent to a lower elevation for acclimatization make up this physically taxing segment.

The last descent of the Umbwe Route is the hike from Millennium Camp (3,820 m/12,532 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,640 m/5,380 ft), which takes roughly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) in 5–7 hours. Climbers descend through luxuriant highland forest to lower elevations, when temperatures rise and the air gets thicker. Climbers sign out, get their summit credentials, and are taken to a hotel to relax and celebrate their accomplishment when they arrive at Mweka Gate.

The end of 9 day kilimanjaro Trekking

On the final day of the trek, climbers travel to Kilimanjaro International Airport. After a journey to the airport, they board their flight back home, concluding their unforgettable Kilimanjaro adventure.